# Elon Musk and Sam Altman Clash Over OpenAI Lawsuit The billionaires spar on social media over the future of OpenAI. - **Source:** [US Top News and Analysis](https://brifing.si/source/635540e9-943e-450d-ae52-ae0bfe3b67eb) - **Published:** 2026-07-12 - **Topic:** [Entrepreneurship](https://brifing.si/c/entrepreneurship) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/21f35881-2b53-459d-88b8-3723c9aa474e ## The Beginning of OpenAI Elon Musk and Sam Altman founded OpenAI in 2015 as a nonprofit AI research lab. However, the company's shift to a for-profit structure later drew Musk's criticism. ## Musk's Objections Musk criticized OpenAI's transformation into a for-profit entity under Altman's leadership, calling it opaque. This led to a lawsuit in California. ## Court Decision In 2026, a jury ruled in favor of Altman in the lawsuit. Musk announced he would appeal the decision, further straining their relationship. ## Tech Rivalry The competition between Musk's SpaceX and xAI against OpenAI intensified in AI technologies. Both sides continue to unveil new models in a bid for dominance. ## Social Media Spat Musk and Altman exchanged criticisms on X. Musk labeled Altman as 'Scam Altman,' while Altman fired back with critiques of Musk's projects. ## Future Implications This rivalry highlights the leadership battle in AI and space technologies. The future moves of both sides will shape the industry. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/12/elon-musk-and-sam-altman-spar-.html — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._